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Child Development Associate and Supervisor

UCI Series Concepts

Class Specifications - H.70
Child Development Supervisor - 9344
Child Development Associate - 9345

October, 1980

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SERIES CONCEPT

Child Development Associates develop and administer therapeutic child 
development programs for pediatric patients and their families that 
facilitate coping with the psychological stress of illness and 
hospitalization.

Incumbents provide a therapeutic milieu within a medical facility for 
ill infants, toddlers, preschool, school-age and adolescent children and 
their families; implement therapeutic experiences that will promote 
and allow for continuance of healthy development intellectually, 
socially, emotionally and physically; establish appropriate 
therapeutic experiences for groups and individuals through educational 
and play activities relating to surgical and medical events in order to 
assist children in understanding their medical treatment, illness and 
environment; assess patient's behavior in terms of observable 
physical, emotional, social and intellectual needs and prepare written 
observations and evaluation of patients and their family; participate as 
a member of an interdisciplinary health team, coordinating patient's 
needs with other departments and staff such as physicians, nurses, 
social workers, dietitians, school teachers, and support staff involved 
in patient care; assist parents in understanding child growth and 
development behaviors; schedule prehospitalization visits for the child 
and family to educate and prepare them for medical environment; promote 
and facilitate the adaptation of parents and siblings to the hospital 
environment and the relationship of parents and family members with the 
patient within their normal and modified patterns of interaction; 
provide training in basic child development therapy techniques to staff, 
professionals, volunteers and students within the medical facility and 
community; develop guidelines and training materials for the mental 
health of children under Pediatric care; and maintain appropriate 
teaching and play materials, as well as a safe and attractive 
environment in playrooms.

Incumbents in this series typically apply specialized concepts, 
principles and practices of child development therapy to reduce 
psychological stress and trauma in children resulting from medical 
treatment and hospitalization.

                       CLASS CONCEPT

Child Development Supervisor

Under direction, incumbents develop, administer and evaluate group and 
individual patient care programs, determine staff and budget needs, and 
plan long-range goals and objectives of the program.

Incumbents coordinate patient treatment with other departments, identify 
the patient's social and personal needs as well as adjustment problems 
and evaluate the effect of the treatment program on the patient's 
progress; recruit, select, train and supervise child development staff; 
implement training programs for volunteers; plan seminars; and determine 
resources to meet the objectives of the therapeutic program.

Child Development Associate

Under general supervision, incumbents perform the range of duties 
outlined in the Series Concept.

                    MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Incumbents for positions in the Child Development Associate series are 
expected to possess a Bachelor's degree with a major in child 
development, early childhood education or child psychology; and possess 
the skills, knowledges, and abilities essential to the successful 
performance of the duties assigned to the position.

Note: Specific qualification requirements are defined for the position 
      by the appropriate user department

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